Noah Wicks

The Agriculture Department is making investments worth $163 million in Rural Energy for America grants, loans and technical assistance for 338 projects to install solar panels, wind turbines or other energy sources, and make other kilowatt-reducing improvements for farms and small businesses.

The way fees are collected from telecommunications companies for the Universal Service Fund, which defrays the cost of phone and internet access in rural areas, is unconstitutional, a federal appeals court has ruled.

Members of the House are returning today for what is expected to be the last series of votes before Speaker Mike Johnson dismisses the chamber for an early August recess. The House isn’t due to return to work until Sept. 9.

A panel of farmers, retailers and lenders on Tuesday urged lawmakers to pass a new farm bill by the end of this year, saying the legislation would help offset the falling crop prices, high production costs and rising interest rates producers are expected to see in the year ahead.

The Agriculture Department will be awarding $90 million for 53 projects aimed at developing new technologies and approaches for conservation efforts, Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday.